Tragedy
Drama where the central
character(s) suffer disaster/great
misfortune
Definition:
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A drama in which a character (usually a good
and noble person of high rank) is brought to a
disastrous end in his or her confrontation with a
superior force (fortune, the gods, social forces,
universal values), but also comes to understand
the meaning of his or her deeds and to accept an
appropriate punishment. (The Norton Introduction
to Literature, 7th ed)
Tragic Hero
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The tragic hero is a man of
noble stature.
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“high position” usually means a king,
duke, prince, company owner, etc.
He is not an ordinary man, but a
man with outstanding quality
and greatness about him.
He is good—but not “too
good”—so the audience can
identify with him.
Tragic Hero
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His own destruction is for a greater cause or
principle—i.e. it proves a point.
It should be noted that the hero's downfall is his
own fault as a result of his own free choice, but
his misfortune is not wholly deserved.
Usually his death is seen as a waste of human
potential.
Characteristics of a Tragic
Hero
According to Aristotle:
1.
Usually of noble birth
2.
Hamartia – a.k.a. the tragic flaw that eventually leads to his
downfall; often this leads to a mistake in judgment.
3.
Peripeteia – a reversal of fortune brought about by the hero’s
tragic flaw; this is often also influenced by “fate” or the gods.
4.
His actions result in an increase of self- awareness and selfknowledge…though he may not choose to act on this!
5.
The audience must feel pity and fear for this character.
The “tragic flaw”
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The “flaw” in the character is a defect which
keeps him/her from being aware of the situation
around him/her. The character does not
understand (for much of the story) his/her part
of creating the situation.
Ex: Pride (“Hubris”)
Skywalker thinks he is
so good, he can take on an
experienced Jedi all by himself.
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Examples of Flaws
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Greed
Obsession with one thing
Mistrust
Uncertainty
Lack of patience
Easily influenced
Hesitation
Selfishness
Ambition
The Hero’s Understanding
Aristotle:
"A man cannot become a hero until
he can see the root of his own downfall.“
The tragic hero has a “moment of
enlightenment” near the end of the story.
He/she finally understands what he/she has done
wrong—how he/she contributed to the tragic situation.
 The story often ends with the death of the tragic hero.
 His death usually is not a pure loss, because it results in
greater knowledge and awareness.
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Shakespearean Tragic Plot
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Act I: Exposition
This is where the setting,
characters, and conflicts are
introduced.
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Act II: Rising Action
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Act III: Turning Point (Climax)
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This is where the reversal of fortune occurs and it all starts to go badly for
the tragic hero.
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Act IV: Falling Action
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Act V: Catastrophe/Resolution
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The conflicts are resolved; chaos returns to order.
Shakespeare’s Tragic Heroes
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Aristotle wrote down these characteristics of a
tragic hero for classical Greek tragedy plays.
However, Shakespeare plays are often noted for
their excellent portrayals of tragic heroes.
Macbeth is an example of a principal
Shakespeare character who is regarded as a
tragic hero.
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Macbeth's fatal flaw, as seen by Aristotle, would be
his lust for power (ambition).
Macbeth
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Unlike classical tragic heroes,
however, Macbeth is well aware
of his fatal flaw from the
beginning - he constantly
questions himself on why he
continues to delay the fulfillment
of his desires.
 This is slightly different from the Aristotliean
classical tragedies such as Oedipus Rex where the
hero is not aware of his flaw until the very end.
Shakespeare’s Quirks
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Shakespeare often represents abnormal
conditions of mind: insanity, somnambulism,
hallucinations (like, perhaps, Macbeth)
Shakespeare also introduces the supernatural:
ghosts, witches, etc. who have supernatural
knowledge
Shakespeare, in most of the tragedies, allows
"chance" in some form to influence some of
the action - e.g. the timing in Romeo and Juliet
It’s Like She Read the Classics…
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In the Harry Potter series, Sirius Black and could
be considered a tragic hero!
Sirius Black of the Harry Potter Series, actually
suffers from his fatal flaws several times. His hot
headiness is what got him framed for murdering
his best friend, cause him to serve
several years in Azkaban.
Who else might be a tragic hero?
Modern Tragic Hero
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In the late 19th and early 20th century, a new
kind of tragic hero was created.
The modern hero does not necessarily have to
be of a high estate, but rather an"ordinary
person."
The story may not result in an epiphany of
awareness or even come to a resolution of
catharsis. He or she may not even die!
Sometimes, the new tragic hero is also known as
the "anti-hero".
As you read…
Consider: Is Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart is a
prime example of a classical tragic hero,
or is his tragic end more in line with the
definition of a modern tragic hero?
 Consider these facts:
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His father is a titleless debtor
 He is a man of great strength, honor…and a temper
 He is later exiled because he accidentally killed a man
 His son leaves him for a life as a Christian and…
…well, I won’t spoil the ending!
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